Real Life Church Podcast

The Impossible is the true story of a family vacationing in Thailand that was torn apart by the December 26, 2004 tsunami that killed over 230,00 people. As we see scenes of the horrible devastation, it is a reminder of why Jesus came. He came on a rescue mission for us–He came to seek and save those who are lost–to save those who’ve wandered far from God–for He is our hope. In John 16:33 Jesus says, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” So no matter the storm, no matter the darkness, Jesus wants to bring light to your hopeless situation.

Unbroken is the true, life story of Louis Zamperini. Known as the “greatest of the greatest generation” by Tom Brokaw, Zamperini was an Olympian, war veteran, POW and ultimately found Christ at a Billy Graham crusade. Returning to the States after being a POW, Zamperini’s life became impossible. He became an alcoholic, had severe PTSD and was in the midst of a divorce from his wife. But, through all the pain, hurt and fear, Zamperini came to find the Lord. We all go through impossible situations, but in the midst of the struggle, know that the Lord is with you. The Lord tells us in Matthew 11:28, “Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.’” Jesus is always available to us; we just have to be willing to seek His help.

42 is the story of Jackie Robinson, the first African-American player to break the color barrier in Major League Baseball. Looking at what Robinson went through then, and looking at what people are going through now, Jesus made it clear in Matthew 5:39 that we are to, "turn the other cheek" when we are persecuted against. God treats and sees all of His children as equals, and as followers of Christ, we are to do the same.

The Notebook is a love story that follows the lives of Noah and Allie. From the first time Noah saw Allie, he was in love. But through several circumstances in life, they are never able to become a couple until they are much older in life and Allie is suffering from dementia. The Bible says that marriage and love are a great mystery (Ephesians 5:31-32), and from experience, we know that marriage is comprised of two flawed people. But, to stand firm in the storms, we need to lift up our partner and make right decisions along the way, so when the storm comes, we are firm in our partnership.

Saving Mr. Banks is a movie that focuses on Walt Disney trying to buy the rights to Marry Poppins, a fictional character developed by Pamela Allows. Growing up with an alcoholic father, we see Pamela having a difficult time letting go of her past, and ultimately the rights to Marry Poppins. Our past impacts who we are, but it should never limit who we become. The Lord tells us to forget about the past for He is do something new (Isaiah 43:18-19). We are to look forward and press on–letting go of the past and grasping onto what God is doing in our present lives.

Christmas can be one of the most enjoyable or stressful times of the year. We get to participate in the joy of giving and family, while others deal with the pain of death or divorce. No matter what side of Christmas we fall on, hope is not something we have to wait for because Jesus is with us. By choosing to be born into human flesh, He has moved into the neighborhood and the thrill of hope has been bestowed upon us.

Many of us have conversations with co-workers, neighbors or friends that ultimately take an abrupt turn when the topic of conversation turns to faith. So what do we say when the person we are talking to says, "I'm not a church person."? This week's message will give you practical examples of how to handle that conversation, and how we can respond without looking the Bible holding, blow horn yelling, crazy Christian that stands on the corner.

You are at a holiday party and a friend of yours pulls you aside and begins to touch on some pretty serious topics in their life, or maybe a situation about someone else they know and they can’t seem to figure out what to do, so they go to you for help, what do you do at that point? They all preface with you with, “I have this friend who…”, and because they feel you are a safe person. They talk about how their “friend”, would love to know the peace, love, joy and confidence that they see in you, but their “friend” just can’t break free from it. Listen to Mike Breaux give some Merry Conversational advice on how encouraging others with your story can guide them through the valleys and hills in life during this holiday season.

Some of the most difficult conversations we have as Christ-followers is trying to defend the Bible, and for many of us, we don't have a response when questions are asked. This week we look at how the Bible proves its own authenticity.

As the we hit the holiday season we will take an in-depth look at some conversations that may be brought up at the dinner table that will test your faith, make you stronger in your walk with Christ and help you share your story of finding and following Jesus.

With Thanksgiving right around the corner Pastor Rusty George talks about doing good in our community, and how a small amount of generosity can go a long ways. Rusty also gives his own rendition of thankfulness notes and we hear the stories of several members who's lives have been positively impacted because of your generosity.

We believe it is vital for a follower of Jesus to see the world with God’s eyes, experience first hand what he is doing beyond where we live and partner through relationship with the global church that is bringing the whole Gospel to the nations. Christianity does not reside only in the USA but also around the world. We have much to learn and discover from our brothers and sisters in Christ from every tribe and nation. Hear Greg Nettle give an impactful talk on what it means to be giving and the true meaning behind being blessed by sponsoring a child.

We have been going to the replay monitor and have been asking God, “after further review” what is something in my life that needs attention and what do I need to do to let your Holy Spirit refine in me. For those of you who have never picked up a football helmet they can be pretty heavy. Catchers, umpires, welders, fire fighters, surgeons wear masks , and sometimes we do too. As Mike Breaux talks about authenticity, we put aside our masks to make way for the Holy Spirit to work on us and through us.

God has a purpose behind every trial that He puts in our path. They are given to us to in order to test our faith and produce a the quality of patience in us as disciples. Patience is the ability to get under a load and stay there and the ability to put people first before time. We are in a world that is full of rustle and bustle, and need to realize that sometimes God just wants us to rest in Him and be patient.

Have you ever said something and you wish the second it came out, you could take it back? In this weeks lesson we look at the topic of self control. The Bible makes it clear that we should be slow to speak and quick to listen–though many of us never really follow that principal. So next time you are in a situation where you become quickly angered or need to get someone back for what they said, stop and think, be wise and not a fool.

It is football season! And for those of you that don’t watch football we are going “Under Further Review” in our own lives and recapping on how we live out our life as Christians. Sometimes we complain about the traffic, or maybe about our job, family members, whatever it is by human nature we have a tendency to take things for granted and not count our blessings. As we enter this next series lead pastor Rusty George will break down verse Psalm 139: 23-24, “search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life”. We will be covering various topics such as: being authentic, patience, and grace to live out life the way that God intended us to.

There are over 45.8 million people held in slavery worldwide, 2 million are children that are enslaved in the sex trade and generate over $150 billion by slavery each year alone. Real Life Church is a proud to partner up with International Justice Mission to raise awareness about modern-day human trafficking. It may seem like an impossible dream, but we have seen time and time again that justice for the poor is possible when we step up into the fight.

When the word of God falls in your life things begin to happen and you begin to see things clear and better than ever before. When you invest in Gods kingdom,then God invests in yours, and He brings blessings into your life in a variety of different ways. Sometimes its a financial blessing, the gift of time or an umbrella of protection through all the storms of life. When you give to God what is His you get so much more in return.

There is nothing more and nothing less that you can do for God to love you. In order for God to make a significant impact in your life you need to do one simple thing, move towards the mess. Whether that is a broken relationship, family that you never talk to, or maybe a friendship, confronting it may be uncomfortable, but when you address the mess, God will changes you.

Are you all in? Beginning with the Old Testament and walking through the life of Jesus, Rusty unpacks seven core promises of God―and reveals what you need to do in order to unlock them. What is it God wants from you? When you do it, what can you trust He will then do in response? And how can you confidently move forward in life without wearing yourself out trying to guess God’s will or somehow earning His unconditional love and boundless grace? As we enter this series When You Then God think about how are you partnering with God to fulfill your purpose in life.